Sofa bed



Jan. 17, 1967 W. (3. ROGERS, JR 3,2'9&U41

SOFA BED Filed Sept. 1, 1.964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y INVENTOR. WALTER CLARKROGERS, JR.

g2 @Z W A TTOR NE Yb,

Jan. 17, 1967' w. c. ROGERS, JR

SOFA BED 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 1, 1964 INVENTOR.

WALTER CLARK ROGERS, JR.

A TTORNEYi Jan. 17, 196? w. c. ROGERS, JR

SOFA BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 1, 1964 INVENTOR.

WALTER CLARK ROGERS, JR

9 1967 w. c. ROGERS, JR 3,9,U1

' SOFA BED Filed Sept. 1, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WALTER CLARKROGERS, JR

A 'ITOR NE Y8.

United States Patent 3,298,041 SOFA BED Walter Cliark Rogers, Jr., HighPoint, N.C., assignor to General Steel Products, Inc., High Point, N.C.,a corporation of North Carolina Filed Sept. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 393,571 13Claims. (Cl. --13) This invention relates to sofa beds of the type inwhich a foldable bed frame is mounted in a sofa in such a manner that itcan be retracted within the sofa when not in use where it is hidden fromview by the front panel of the sofa and the sofa cushions. For use as abed, the cushions are removed and the bed frame is projected from thesofa portion and unfolded to the bed position.

In conventional sofa beds, the front panel of the sofa, or a portionthereof, is connected with the bed mechanism so that when the bed isprojected from the sofa, the front panel is carried from its normalposition by the bed or, in some cases, the front panel is completelyremoved from the sofa before the bed portion is projected from the sofa.This has been necessary in order that the folded, retracted bed does notprotrude above the front board or panel of the sofa in order that thesofa cushions are supported at a comfortable seating height. As aresult, the periodic removal and replacement of the front panel, whichis usually upholstered, creates wear.

In my copending application, Serial No. 284,412 filed May 31, 1963, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, a sofabed is disclosed in which a bed frame consisting of three sections isconnected with the sofa frame in such a manner that the bed frame movesup and over the front board without disturbing the sofa framework as itmoves between its retracted and projected positions. When not in use,the folded frame is stored within the space defined by the front boardand side frame members of the sofa frame so that when the bed frame isretracted within the sofa portion, it serves as a support for thecushions of the sofa.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide improved mechanismfor moving a bed frame between its retracted and extended positionrelative to the sofa with a minimum of effort, and without the necessityof displacing portions of the sofa framework.

A further object is to provide a sofa bed having a bed frame with fourpivotally connected sections that can be projected from and retractedinto the sofa portion without displacement of the front board or otherportions of the sofa framework.

In achievement of the foregoing, and additional objects, the side framemembers and front board of the sofa frame cooperate to define a bedframe storage space. Curved support arms or levers are pivotallyattached to the side frame members at a point adjacent their forwardends, and rear support or control levers are pivotally attached to theside frame members at a point located to the rear and above the pivotpoints of the forward support arm. The distance between the free end andpivot point of the forward support arm is substantially greater than thedistance between the free end and pivot point of the control lever, andthe free ends of the support arm and control lever are interconnectedwith the bed frame through an expansible compound link and lever system.When the bed frame is retracted within the sofa portion, the cornpoundlink and lever system is contracted, and as the bed frame is projectedfrom the sofa portion, the compound link and lever system is extended bythe resulting separation of the ends of the support arm, and controllever. During movement of the bed frame from its retracted to extendedposition, the support arm carries the bed up and over the front boardand the control lever and link and lever system cause the bed frame tomove 3,293,041 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 about the free end of the supportarm and assume a horizontal, extended position where it can be unfoldedto define a bed, the curvature of the support arm accommodating thefront board.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are end views of the sofa with certain parts brokenaway, illustrating the bed frame in successive positions as it movesfrom its retracted position in FIG. 1 to its fully extended and unfoldedposition of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the sofa bed with the bed frame in its projectedand unfolded position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the bed frame;

FIG. 7 is a view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the bed frame in its retracted,folded position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the auxiliary or headrest sectionof the bed frame.

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 5 and 7, the sofa frame portion andbed frame are designated generally by reference numerals 10 and 12,respectively. Sofa portion 10 includes a back member 14, arm members 16and legs 18. Arm members 16 include vertical and horizontal side framemembers 26 and 20, respectively, and back 14 includes a front portion 15and a rear portion defined by a back frame member 25. Defined betweenback frame and the front upholstered portion 15 of the sofa back is astorage cavity 21.

Extending between the rear end of side frame members 20 is a lower,horizontal back frame member 24, and extending between the forward endsof side frame members 20 is a front panel or board 22. Front board 22cooperates with the side frame members todefine a storage space 23 (FIG.7) the upper limit of which is defined by the horizontal plane tangentto the upper edge 22a of front-board 22. The front, upholstered portion15 of back 14 is supported at its lower edge by a horizontal framemember 27 extending between the vertical side frame members 26.

For suporting the bed frame and operating linkage on the sofa frame, aplate member 28 (FIG. 7) is secured to the horizontal side frame member20 to which is secured one end of a support bracket 30 which extendsvertically above side frame member 20 and is secured by a conventionalscrew to the vertical side frame member 26. Bracket 30 is bracedlaterally by a bar 32 having its ends secured to bracket 30 and plate28.

Bed frame 12 includes a main frame portion having rear, intermediate andforward sections, 34, 36 and 38, respectively. Rear section 34 ispivotally connected by a pin or rivet to the end of intermediate section36, and the other end of intermediate section 36 is pivotally connectedby a pin or rivet 4-2. with forward section 38. Pivotally connected byrivets 46 with the rear end of rear frame section 34 is an auxiliaryframe section, or headrest section 44. When bed frame 12 is in theextended or projected position shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, it can beunfolded as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7 to define a rectangular bed inwhich sections 34, 36, 38 and 44 are in horizontal alignment definingthe side rails of the bed. End rails 45 and 47 extend between the siderails of sections 44 and 38, respectively, at their ends, and a wiremesh fabric is secured to the inner periphery of the frame sections forsupporting a mattress in the usual manner.

From the unfolded bed positions of FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, frame 12 can befolded into a collapsed position in which rear and forward sections 34and 38 assume spaced, superposed positions relative to each other tothereby, respectively, constitute the lower and upper sections of thefolded bed frame. In FIG. 3, the bed is shown in its projected positionrelative to sofa portion 10 with the bed frame in its folded positionwith intermediate section 36 extending substantially vertically betweenthe forward and rear ends, respectively, of rear and forward sections 34and 38. Auxiliary frame section 44 is in horizontal alignment with rearsection 34, being supported in the latter position by means of a link 48having one end pivotally connected by a rivet 50 with section 44, andits other end pivotally and slidably connected with rear frame section34 by means of a pin 52 which is received in a slot 54 formed in rearsection 34.

When bed frame 12 is projected from the sofa and unfolded to define abed as shown in FIGS. 4, and 7, auxiliary frame section 44 may bepivoted from its hori zontally aligned position relative to rear,intermediate and forward sections 34, 36 and 38 to an inclined positionas shown in FIG. 9 to serve as a head rest for the occupant of the bed.Section 44 may be pivoted in a clockwise direction about pivot 46 to theinclined position shown in FIG. 9 where it is supported in the inclinedposition by means of a support link 56. Link 56 is pivotally connectedby rivet 50 with auxiliary frame section 44, and is pivotally andslidably connected with a guide link or lever 62 by means of a rivet orpin 66 which is received in a slot 58 formed in support link 56,Rotatably mounted on rivet 60 is a latch member 57 having oppositelydisposed notched ends which cooperate with an actuating lug 59 and alocking lug 61 formed on link 56 to support the headrest section in itsinclined position.

To move headrest section 44 to its inclined position, the headrestsection is pivoted in a clockwise direction about 'pin 46 until latchactuating lug 59 engages the lower-most notch of latching'member 57 toalign the opposite notch with latching lug 61. Then, as the section ispivoted downward slightly, latching lug 61 seats in the adjacent notchof latching member 57. Further counterclockwise pivotal movement isprevented since the force on latching lug 61 acts vertically along thelongitudinal axis of latching member 57 preventing it from rotating.Since headrest section 44 is not directly connected with main framesections 34, 36 and 38, its operationdoes not influence or interferewith the operation of the main frame sections, and the portion of themattress and springs supported by section 44 can be selectively raisedto the inclined position as shown in FIG 9 To return headrest section 44from the inclined position illustrated in FIG. 9 to a horizontallyaligned position relative to rear frame section 34, the auxiliary orheadrest section is pivotedv upwardly about its pivot 46 causing latchactuating lug 59 to engage the lower side of latching member 57 which inturn causes it to pivot until the straight sides of the latching memberassumes a position substantially perpendicular to slot 58 with thenotches disposed out of alignment with locking lug 61. Thereafter,downward pivotal movement of headrest section 44 causes latching member57 to slide past locking lug 61 permitting the, headrest section toreturn to its horizontal position.

Bed frame 12 is supported on the side frame members of the sofa portionby means of control lever 66 and a curved support arm or lever 67. Lever66 is pivotally mounted at one end on side frame member 26 by means of apin or rivet 68 received in the upper end of bracket 30.

Support arm or lever 67 is pivotally mounted on the side frame member bymeans of a pin or rivet 69 which is received in plate member 28 adjacentthe forward link 78. Guide lever 62 has one end pivotally connected at64 adjacent the free end of control lever 66, and its other endpivotally connected by rivet 46 with the rear end of rear frame section3. Drive lever 76 is pivotally mounted on guide lever 62 intermediateits ends by a rivet or pin 72 which extends through a triangular cap 74forming one end of lever 70. Drive lever 70 is provided with a crank arm76 defined by the rear edge of triangular cap 74 (FIG. 7). Restraininglink 78 is pivoted at one end by a rivet 82 with control lever 66 at apoint spaced from the pivotal connection 64 between guide lever 62 andcontrol lever 66. Link 78 has its other end pivotally connected by a pinor rivet with the lower end of crank arm 76 of lever 70. Support arm 67has its free end pivotally connected to drive lever 70 near its freeend'by a pin or rivet 86. The free end of drive lever 76 is pivotallyconnected through a link with rear frame section 34 by means of pins orrivets 92 and 94 at the ends of link 90.

For supporting the folded bed frame in the retracted position, a forwardsupport rod 96 is carried by support arm 67, which, inthe retractedposition as shown in FIG. 8, supports the folded bed frame through rearsection 34. Auxiliary frame section 44 is carried from the horizontalposition shown in FIG. 7 to a generally vertical position shown in FIG.8 in which it projects into cavity 21 as the bedmoves from the projectedto the retracted position by means of a rear support bar 98 carried byguide lever 62. t

Pivotally connected with an extension formed on the lower end of supportarm 67 by a rivet 162is a link 100 having its other end secured to abalance spring 164. Balance spring 104 reacts between link 1116 and aneyebolt 106 mounted on a bracket 168 secured to plate 28. Rotation ofsupport arm 67 to its retracted position of FIG. 8 extends spring 164 sothat the resilient force of the spring assists in moving the bed frameboth to and from its retracted position.

When the bed is unfolded to the position of FIGS. 4 and 5, the siderails of section 34 are laterally supported by a crossbar 110 which isbraced by bars 112 connected between section 34 and crossbar 110. As thebed moves from its retracted to extended position, a rear leg member 114is actuated from an operative position to a fioor supporting position bymeans of bell crank lever 118 which is interconnected with drive lever70 through a leg actuating link 22. Bell crank lever 118 is pivotallyconnected by a rivet 121) to the end of actuating link 122, the otherend of actuating link 122 being pivoted to drive lever 71) at 124. Bellcrank lever 118 has one end pivoted to leg 114 at 116 and its other endpivoted at 126 to rear frame section 34. Leg 114 is pivoted at 130 toone end of a link 128, the other end of which is pivoted at 132 tosection 34.

A cross brace 134 may be provided between links 128 to provideadditional lateral support for the legs. As the bed frame is extendedfrom the sofa, drive lever 70 acts through leg actuating link 122 tocause leg 114 to pivot about rivet 116 until it assumes its floorsupporting position shown in FIGS, 3, 4-, 7 in a manner to be describedin detail below.

Secured to the outer side of forward section 38 is a plate member 143having a slot 146 formed therein. Rear frame section 34 is formed with aforward slot 161). Pivotally connected at a point 152 on intermediatesec tion 36 is one end of a link 150, the other end of which ispivotally and slidably connected by a pin 144 with slot 146. Pivotallyconnected at point 42 between sections 36 and 38 is one end of a link156, the other end of which is connected with a pin 158 slidablyreceived in slot 160. Link and link 156 are interconnected intermediatetheir ends by an L-shaped connecting link 162. One end of a leg member136 is pivotally connected by a pin 138 to section 38. One end of alocking link 141) is pivotally connected with leg member 136intermediate its ends by a pin 142 and the other end of locking link 148is secured by a pin 144 to link 150.

To fold the bed frame from the horizontally aligned position of FIGS. 3and 7 to the folded or collapsed position the operator may grasp rail 47and move forward section 38 upwardly about pivot 42. Upon the initialmovement, link 150 pivots about point 152 and pin 144. This initialmovement is transmitted through connecting link 162 to link 156 andintermediate frame section 36 causing link 156 to pivot clockwise aboutpin 158, and section 36 to pivot clockwise about pin 48.

Connecting link 162 pivots clockwise as section 38 moves upwardly andcauses pin 158 to move toward the rear of slot 160. At the same time,pin 144 is cammed forwardly in slot 146 carrying with it the end oflocking link 148 which in turn causes leg 136 to pivot counterclockwiseabout pivot 138 toward its folded position in which it overlies forwardsection 38 with its horizontal portion against the top of section 38. Assection 38 assumes its collapsed position superimposed above section 34,pin 158 is positioned at the rear of slot 168 and pin 144 is positionedat the end of slot 146. When this position is reached, leg member 136and locking link 148 are slightly inclined in an upward direction fromsection 38. In this position, the parts can be unfolded by reversing theabove operation. However, further downward movement of leg member 136causes pin 142 between I locking link 140 and leg 136 to move to aposition below the plane of pin 144 due to the configuration of leg 136.This overcenter or locking position of locking link 140 prevents upwardmovement of section 38 since any upward movement of section 38 tends tocause pin 142 to move counterclockwise about pin 144 in FIG. 3. Sinceframe sections 34, 36 and 38 are firmly locked in the collapsed positionagainst relative movement by locking link 140 and leg member 136, themattress which is folded upon itself and compressed between the framesections, is firmly held in place.

With reference to FIG. 6, a floating crossbar 164 is pivotal-1yconnected to forward section 38 adjacent its rear end by means of arivet 168 interconnecting section 38 with a plate member 166 at the endsof crossbar 164. Plate 166 is formed with a stop flange 170 whichprevents clockwise movement of crossbar 164 about pivot point 168 asviewed in FIG. 4. Interconnected between crossbar 164 and section 36 isa spring link 172 having one end connected with a spring member 174 sothat as the bed frame is folded, crossbar 164 is resiliently urged intoa position against the upper end of section 36 in which flange 178 abutssection 38 to form a cushion support (FIG. 8). Conversely, when the bedis unfolded, spring 174 resiliently supports crossbar 164 permitting itto freely pivot about 168.

Referring to FIGS. l and 8, when the folded bed frame is in itsretracted position within the sofa, rear or lower main frame section 34is disposed substantially horizontally in storage space 23 with itsforward end at pivot point 48 positioned adjacent the forward end of thestorage defined by the rear or inner face of front board 22. Theforward, or upper main frame section 38 is disposed in the storage spacein superposed, substantially parallel relationship with rear framesection 34. No portion of the folded bed frame projects above the upperlimit or boundary of storage space 23 between portion of the sofa backand the front board 22. When the sofa cushions are placed on the sofa,they may rest on frame section 38 and coop-crate with front board 22 tocompletely enclose the bed frame. In the retracted position of FIGS. 1and 8, control lever 66 projects rearwardly of its fulcrum at pivotpoint 68 into cavity 21, and members 78 and 62, as well as auxiliaryframe section 44 project upwardly relative to rear frame section 34 intocavity 21. Rearward pivotal movement (clockwise in FIG. 1 andcounterclockwise in FIG. 8) of auxiliary frame section 44 about pivotpoint 46 is limited by support member 98,

and forward pivotal movement of auxiliary frame sec tion 44 about pivotpoint 46 is limited by the horizontal, floor engaging portion of legmember 136. Support arm 67 projects rearwardly of pivot point 69 intostorage space 23.

Pivot point 72 of drive lever 70 is in a dead center position relativeto pivot point and 82, pivots 72, 80 and 82 lying on a straight linewhich is substantially parallel to a straight line connecting pivotpoints 46 and 64, and pivot point 94 between link and rear frame member34 is disposed rearwardly of pivot point 92, or to the right as viewedin FIG. 1.

To move the folded bed frame from its retracted position within storagespace 23 to its extended position illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, theoperator lifts the forward end of the bed frame upwardly by graspingcrossbar 164. The resulting upward force causes support arm 67 to rotateupwardly about pivot point 69 (clockwise in FIG. 8) and control lever 66to rotate downwardly about pivot point 68 (counterclockwise in FIG. 8).Since pivot points 68 and 69 are fixed, pivot point 86 moves in acircular path or are about point 69 indicated at a in FIG. 1, and pivotpoints 64 and 82 move in circular paths or arcs about point 68. Pivotpoint 86 moves upwardly and forwardly about point 69 along arc at untilit reaches a vertical position relative to point 69 on line y in FIGS. 1and 2. The rate of forward horizontal movement of pivot point 86increases as it approaches the vertical axis y, and the rate of upward,vertical movement of pivot point 86 decreases as it approaches line y.After passing line y, pivot point 86 moves downwardly and forwardlyalong are a until it reaches its extended position as shown in FIGS. 3,4 and 7. In the extended position, the curved portion of support arm 67accommodates the front board, and pivot point 86 projects forwardly ofthe front board and lies in a horizontal plane elevated above the upperlimit of storage space 23.

From their retracted positions of FIG. 1, pivot points 82 and 64 movedownwardly and rearwardly in circular paths about pivot point 68 untilthey pass through the horizontal axis indicated at x in FIGS. 1 and 2,which passes through pivot point 68. After passing the horizontal axis,pivot points 82 and 64 move in a downward and forward direction with therate of vertical, downward movement decreasing and the rate ofhorizontal, forward movement increasing as pivot points 82 and 64approach the vertical axis indicated at y in FIGS. 1 and 2, which passesthrough pivot point 68. Lever 66 then continues to rotate clockwiseabout pivot point 68 to move points 64 and 82 upwardly and forwardlyfrom line y until lever 66 reaches its extended position shown in FIGS.3, 4 and 7 in which it projects forwardly of pivot point 68.

In the retracted position, the distance between pivot point 86 at thefree end of support arm 67 and pivot points 64 and 82 on control lever66 is substantially less than when members 66 and 67 are in theirextended positions as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. The separation of the freeends of members 66 and 67 as they rotate from their retracted toextended positions causes the compound link and lever system includingmembers 62, 78 and 70 to expand or extend from its contracted positionof FIG. 1 to its expanded or elongated condition of FIGS. 3 and 7.

During the time that pivot point 86 moves upwardly to the approximateposition indicated at point in on arc a, there is substantially norelative movement between members 62, 66, 70, 78, 90 and 34, and thelatter members rotate as a unit about pivot points 68, pivot point 46moving in a circular path or are b about pivot point 68 until it reachesthe approximate position indicated at n (FIG. 1). Similarly, pivot point40 moves in a circular path or are 0 about pivot point 68 to theapproximate position indicated at p in FIG. 1, the latter point beinglocated above the upper edge 22a of front board 22. At this point, i.e.,with pivots 86, 46 and 40 at points 111, n, and p, respectively, pivots64 and 82 pass through the horizontal line x, and link 78 begins to moveoff dead center with respect to pivot point 72 permitting the link andlever system to expand, and the distance between pivot point 86 andpivot points 82 and 64 begins to increase.

After pivot 86 moves upwardly beyond point In on arc a, the horizontalmovement of point 86 in a forward, or leftward direction in FIG. 1, issufiicient to pull pivot point 72 off dead center with respect to pivotpoints 80 and 82 to thereby unlock the compound link and lever systemand permit it to unfold or extend. Moreover, the distance between pivotpoint 46 and pivot point 68 begins to increase at a rate faster than theincrease in distance between pivot point 72 and pivot point 68 sincepivot point 72 is located on member 62 between pivot point 46 and pivotpoint 64. Consequently, rear frame member 34 is impelled forwardlyrelative to drive lever 70 in a plane generally parallel to the plane ofdrive lever 70 causing link 90 to rotate in a clockwise direction aboutpivot point 92 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. As members 66 and 67 movetoward their extended positions, the angle between members 62 and 66increases, and the angle between members 70 and 62 increases, andcounterclockwise rotation about pivot 72 is imparted to drive lever 70.

As pivot point 86 continues to move forwardly from its position shown inFIG. 2, members 62 and 66 continue to unfold or straighten out withrespect to each other, and as pivot 92 approaches rear frame member 34,pivot point 46 begins to move upwardly relative to pivot point 94, i.e.,counterclockwise rotation is imparted to rear frame section 34 as itmoves over front board 22, and it assumes a horizontal attitude orposition as shown in FIG. 3 when pivot point 36 reaches its extendedposition. Thus, support member 67 moves the bed frame up and over frontboard 22, and control lever 66, cooperating with member 67, causes thecompound link and lever system to expand and shift the bed frame aboutforward support member 67 to assume its extended position. In theextended position, the portion of link 62 between pivot points 46 and 72is in substantially coplanar, parallel relationship with auxiliary framesection 44 in its horizontally aligned position relative to section 34,and the rear portion of link 62 between pivot points 72 and 64 projectsdownwardly and rearwardly relative to the plane of rear section 34 andauxiliary section 44.

During the movement of the bed frame to its extended position, auxiliaryframe section 44 pivots about point 46 into horizontal alignment withrear frame section 34 as the angle between section 34 and member 62increases. As the bed frame moves from its retracted position, pin 52 oflink 48 slides rearwardly in slot 54 (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9) as auxiliaryframe section 44 follows support member 98 until the parts are in theapproximate position shown in FIG. 2. At this point the mid-point oflink 48 engages the upper edge of member 62 and the continued movementof the bed frame toward its extended position causes auxiliary section44 to move out of engagement with support member 98. As rear framesection 34 approaches its horizontal, extended position, auxiliary framesection 44 moves into horizontal alignment with rear frame section 34and is supported in the latter position by link 48 on member 62 as shownin FIG. 7.

Rear leg member 114 is actuated from its inoperative position in whichit is disposed alongside rear frame section 34 when the bed frame isretracted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 to its operative position inengagement with the floor as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, by the relativemotion between rear frame section 34 and drive lever 70 during extensionof the bed frame. As members 66, 62 and 34 unfold or elongate from theretracted position, member 62 rotates in a counterclockwise directionrelative to member 70 (as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2) to impart forwardmovement to rear frame section 34 relative to member 70. Consequently,leg actuating link 122 actuates bell crank 118 to rotate about pivot 126in a clockwise direction, which motion in turn acts through leg member114 to cause link or bar 128 to pivot in a clockwise direction aboutpivot 132. As the bed frame moves forward beyond the position shown inFIG. 2, pivot point 116 moves over center with respect to pivots 130 and120, and leg 114 pivots counterclockwise about pivot 130 to its floorengaging position.

Further counterclockwise rotation of hell crank 118 is prevented by thereaction between link 122 and lever 70, and leg member 114 isaccordingly locked in its operative position when the bed frame is inits extended position.

To return the bed to its retracted position, the operator lifts upwardlyon the folded bed frame such as by grasping bar 164. As a result, thecurved, forward support arm 67 begins to rotate rearwardly about pivot69, and rear frame section 34 rotates in a clockwise direction relativeto pivot point 94 as viewed in FIG. 2. Auxiliary frame section 44 ismoved downwardly into engagement with support member 98 as shown in FIG.2, after which it is carried to its stored or retracted position intocavity 21. As pivot point 86 approaches pivot points 64 and 82, thecompound link and lever system contracts to return the parts to theirvarious retracted positions. Crossbar 164 is pulled into position inalignment with pivot point 42 between sections 36 and 38 and the portionof the springs supported between bar 164 and bar 45 may support the sofacushions.

In the illustrated embodiment, the horizontal distance between thevertical axes y and y (FIG. 1) passing through pivot points 68 and 69,respectively, is equal approximately to the sum of the horizontaldistance from axis y to pivot point 86 in its retracted position and thedistance between pivot points 68 and 64 or lever 66. Moreover, pivotpoint 68 of lever 66 is spaced vertically above pivot point 69 ofsupport arm 67 a distance equal approximately to the distance betwenpivot points 63 and 64, and the distance between pivot points 69 and 86of arm 67 is approximately in the range of 1.7 to 1.8 times the distancebetween pivot points 68 and 64 .of lever 66.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it should be understood that the invention is not limited tothe exact construction shown, and that various alterations inconstruction and arrangement of parts can be made by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sofa bed including a sofa portion having side frame members anda front board extending between the forward ends of said side framemembers to form a closed storage space, and a foldable bed frame adaptedto be wholly received within said storage space beneath the upper edgeof said front board,

mechanism supporting a rear frame section of said foldable frame on atleast one of said side frame members for movement from a retractedposition within said storage space up and over the upper edge of saidfront board to an extended position projecting forwardly of the sofaportion including;

a support arm pivotally mounted at a first point on said side framemember and having its outer end rotatable about said first point from aretracted position within said storage space to an extended posi tionabove and forward of the upper edge of said front board,

a control lever pivotally mounted at a second point on said side framemember spaced rearwardly of said first point for rotation about saidsecond point, in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation ofsaid support arm about said first point, from a retracted position inwhich it projects rearwardly of said second point to an extendedposition in which it projects forwardly of said second point,

a pair of links each having one end pivotally connected to said controllever at spaced points near said one end thereof,

one of said pair of links having its other end pivotally connected withsaid rear frame section,

a drive lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said one link havingone end pivotally connected with the other end of said other link ofsaid pair of links,

said drive lever being pivotally connected with said support arm on theopposite side of said drive lever fulcrum from said one end of saiddrive lever,

and a connecting link pivotally connecting said drive lever with saidrear frame section at a point spaced forwardly of said drive leverfulcrum,

said other link of said pair moving from a dead center position relativeto said drive lever fulcrum when said control lever is in its retractedposition and during the initial movement of said support arm from itsretracted to extended position causing said rear frame section to rotateabout said second point on said side frame member during said initialmovement of said support arm to pivot the forward end of the rear framesection above the front board,

further rotation of said control lever toward its extended positioncausing said other link to move off dead center with respect to saiddrive lever fulcrum, said pair of links thereafter projecting said drivelever and rear frame section forwardly of said sofa portion.

2. In a sofa bed including a sofa portion having side frame members, afront board extending between the forward ends of the side frame membersand a back portion with a cavity formed therein extending between therear ends of the side frame members, said front board and side framemembers defining a storage space,

a foldable bed frame having a rear frame section and an auxiliary framesection pivotally connected to and supported from the rear end of therear frame section,

mechanism suporting the foldable bed frame on at least one of the sideframe members for movement between :a retracted position in which thefolded bed frame is received within said cavity and said storage withsaid rear frame section positioned horizontally in said storage spacewith its forward end disposed adjacent the forward end of the storagespace beneath the upper edge of the front board with said rear framesection extending substantially vertically from said rear frame section,and an extended position in which said rear frame section is disposedhorizontally above and forward .of said storage space with saidauxiliary frame section normally horizontal and in line with said rearframe section, said mechanism comprising;

a control lever fulcrumed at a first point in said side frame memberforrotation about said first point from a retracted position in which saidcontrol lever projects into said cavity, to an extended position inwhich said control lever projects forwardly of said back portion,

a support arm fulcrumed at a second point on said side frame member forrotation about said second point from a retracted position in which itprojects rearwardly of said second point into said storage space, to anextended position in which it projects above said storage space andforwardly of said front board,

link means interconnecting said control lever and sup port arm with saidrear frame section operative to rotate said rear frame section upwardlyin said storage space until the forward end thereof projects above thefront board during the initial movement of said support arm and controllever from their retracted positions, and thereafter to project saidrear frame section over the front board to its extended position as saidsupport levers move to their extended positions,

and an auxiliary frame support member carried by said link means forsupporting said auxiliary frame section in the cavity of the backportion with said auxiliary frame section projecting substantiallyvertically into said cavity from the rear end of the horizontal rearframe section when the bed frame is in the retracted position,

said auxiliary frame support member being moved out of engagement withsaid auxiliary frame section as it assumes a horizontal positionrelative to the rear frame section as said bed frame approaches itsextended position.

3. In a sofa bed including a sofa portion having side frame members anda front board secured between the forward ends of the side framemembers,

a foldable bed frame having a plurality of pivotally connected sectionsincluding a rear frame section and an auxiliary frame section having itsforward end pivotally connected with the rear frame section,

mechanism supporting said bed frame on at least one of the side framemembers for movement between a retracted position in which said rearframe section is disposed substantially horizontally in said sofaportion with its forward end positioned adjacent the rear, inner face ofthe front board beneath the top edge of the front board, and in whichretracted position said auxiliary frame section projects upwardly fromthe rear end of the rear frame section, and an extended position inwhich said rear and auxiliary frame sections are disposed in horizontalalignment in a horizontal plane above the top edge of the front board,said mechanism including;

a control lever having one end pivotally mounted at a first point on oneof said side frame members with its other end rotatable about said firstpoint between a retracted position and an extended position,

a support arm having one end pivotally mounted at a second point on saidside frame member with its other end rotatable about said second pointbetween a retracted position and an extended position,

link and lever means interconnecting said other ends of said controllever and support arm with said rear frame section operable inresponseto movement of said other ends from their retracted to extendedpositions to initially swing the forward end of said rear frame sectionupwardly from its retracted position until it clears the top edge of thefront board and thereafter to swing said rear and auxiliary framesections up and over said top edge of the front board to assume theirhorizontally aligned, extended positions as said control lever andsupport arm assume their extended positions,

and support means carried by said link and lever means engageable withsaid auxiliary frame section in its retracted position and movablerelative to said rear frame section during its movement from theretracted to extended position to permit said auxiliary frame section topivot into alignment with the rear frame section, said support meansthereafter moving out of engagement with said auxiliary frame section asthe bed frame assumes its extended position.

4. In a sofa bed including a sofa portion having back and side framemembers with a fixed front rail extending between the lower ends of saidside frame members to define therewithin a storage enclosure within thesofa, a fixture supporting the pivotally connected rear frame andauxiliary frame sections of a foldable bed frame for movement over saidrail between l) a retracted position in which said bed frame iscontained within said storage enclosure with said rear frame sectiongenerally horizontal and said auxiliary frame section extendinggenerally vertically upwardly therefrom adjacent the back of the sofaand (2) an extended position in which said bed frame lies above andextends forwardly of said rail with said rear frame sectionsubstantially horizontally disposed and said auxiliary frame sectionnormally in line with said rear frame section, said fixture comprising:

a control lever supported adjacent one end for pivotal motion about afirst fixed pivot on a side frame memher,

a guiding link pivotally connected to the outer portion of said controllever and to said rear frame section,

a drive lever linkage means pivotally interconnecting said controllever, said guiding link intermediate the connection to said controllever and said rear frame section, and said rear frame section spacedfrom the pivotal connection of said auxiliary frame section,

a support arm pivotally supported at one end by a second fixed rpivotforwardly of said firs-t fixed pivot on a side frame member for pivotalmovement of the other end of said support arm in a direction oppositethat of said control lever between a position Within said enclosure toan extended position above said rail with the outer portion of saidother end being pivo-tally connected to said drive lever linkage meansintermediate the pivotal connection to said rear frame section and saidguiding link,

and a support link pivotally connected at one end to said auxiliaryframe section spaced from the pivotal connection to said rear framesection and at the other end to said guiding link intermediate thepivotal connections to said control lever and said rear frame section.

5. The fixture described in claim 4 wherein said drive lever linkagemeans includes a restraining link pivotally connected at one end to saidcontrol lever and pivotally connected at the other end adjacent to andspaced from the pivotal connection to said guiding link.

6. The fixture as described in claim 16 wherein said drive lever linkagemeans includes a crank lever pivotally connected to said guiding linkand said restraining link adjacent one end portion and having meansconnected to the other end portion for pivotally connecting said otherend to said support arm and to said rear frame section.

7. The fixture as described in claim 6 wherein said other end portion ofsaid crank lever has a pivotal connection to said support arm and apivotal connection to one end of a link of which the other end pivotallyconnects to said rear frame section.

3. The fixture as described in claim 4 wherein a bed frame supportingleg pivotally connects to said rear frame section and a link pivotallyconnects between said leg and said drive lever linkage means formovement of said leg between (1) a position extending downwardly fromsaid rear frame section to have the lower end rest on the floor ahead ofsaid rail when said bed frame is in said extended position and (2) aposition adjacent to and substantially parallel to said rear framesection when said bed frame section is in said retracted position.

9. The fixture described in claim 4 wherein one of said 12 pivotalconnections of said support frame is a lost motion connectionpermit-ting said auxiliary frame section to be rotated about the pivotalconnection to said rear frame section between a normal position in linewithsaid rear frame section and a position inclined upwardly theretowhen said bed frame is in said extended position.

10. The fixture as described in claim 9 wherein said lost motionconnection includes a locking member and a latching member en-gageablewith said locking member upon sliding motion of said lost motionconnection to secure said auxiliary frame section at the inclinedposition and release it therefrom.

11. The construction defined in claim 2 further including a forwardsupport member carried by said support arm for supporting the rear framesection in said storage space when the bed frame is in the retractedposition, said support member moving out of engagement with the bedframe as it moves from its retracted position.

12. The construction defined in claim 3 further includsupport link meanshaving one end pivotally connected with one of said auxiliary framesection and said link and lever means and its other end slidaolyconnected with the other of said auxiliary frame section and said linkand lever means,

and latching means selectively operable by said support link means uponpivotal movement of said auxiliary frame section about said rear framesection to an inclined position relative to said rear frame section inits horizontal, extended position to lock said auxiliary frame sectionin said inclined position.

13. The construction defined in claim 3 further includa rear leg memberpivotally connected to said rear frame section for movement relative tosaid rear frame section between an inoperative position in substantiallyparallel relationship with said rear frame section and a floor engagingposition in which it is adapted to extend between the horizontal,extended References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1958Bank et al. 5--13 10/1965 Fox 513 10/1965 Laemmle 5l3 FRANK B. SHERRY,Primary Examiner.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF (lORRECTION Patent No.3,298,041 January 17, 1967 Walter Clark Rogers, Jr,

ears in the above numbered patrtified that error app (1 Letters Patentshould read as It is hereby ce d that the sai ent requiring correctionan corrected below.

Column 11, line 34, for the claim reference numeral "16" read 5 Signedand sealed this 24th day of October 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

1. IN A SOFA BED INCLUDING A SOFA PORTION HAVING SIDE FRAME MEMBERS ANDA FRONT BOARD EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FORWARD ENDS OF SAID SIDE FRAMEMEMBERS TO FORM A CLOSED STORAGE SPACE, AND A FOLDABLE BED FRAME ADAPTEDTO BE WHOLLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID STORAGE SPACE BENEATH THE UPPER EDGEOF SAID FRONT BOARD, MECHANISM SUPPORTING A REAR FRAME SECTION OF SAIDFOLDABLE FRAME ON AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENTFROM A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN SAID STORAGE SPACE UP AND OVER THEUPPER EDGE OF SAID FRONT BOARD TO AN EXTENDED POSITION PROJECTINGFORWARDLY OF THE SOFA PORTION INCLUDING; A SUPPORT ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTEDAT A FIRST POINT ON SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBER AND HAVING ITS OUTER ENDROTATABLE ABOUT SAID FIRST POINT FROM A RETRACTED POSITION WITHIN SAIDSTORAGE SPACE TO AN EXTENDED POSITION ABOVE AND FORWARD OF THE UPPEREDGE OF SAID FRONT BOARD, A CONTROL LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT A SECONDPOINT ON SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBER SPACED REARWARDLY OF SAID FIRST POINTFOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID SECOND POINT, IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THEDIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT ARM ABOUT SAID FIRST POINT, FROM ARETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH IT PROJECTS REARWARDLY OF SAID SECOND POINTTO AN EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH IT PROJECTS FORWARDLY OF SAID SECONDPOINT, A PAIR OF LINKS EACH HAVING ONE END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAIDCONTROL LEVER AT SPACED POINTS NEAR SAID ONE END THEREOF, ONE OF SAIDPAIR OF LINKS HAVING ITS OTHER END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED WITH SAID REARFRAME SECTION,